U.S. patent application number 17/373815 was filed with the patent office on 2021-11-04 for selectable offset image wedge.
The applicant listed for this patent is Optex Systems, Inc.. Invention is credited to Jose Joaquin Aizpuru, Rodney Doster, Ryan Little, Danny Robert Schoening.
Application Number | 20210341746 17/373815 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005725082 |
Filed Date | 2021-11-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210341746 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Aizpuru; Jose Joaquin ; et
al. |
November 4, 2021 |
Selectable Offset Image Wedge
Abstract
The invention discloses a selectable offset image wedge assembly
and various methods for making and for use with any optical system
having a circular lens and an objective, comprising a housing with
a rear-facing end that mounts onto the objective and a
forward-facing end with a circular wedge lens mounted therein that
is coaxially aligned with the circular lens of the optical system,
wherein, the wedge is adjustable to any predetermined clocking
position after detachment from the optical system, allowing quick
and repeated reattachment to the optical system to an approximately
exact vertical orientation of a first image produced by the wedge
lens and a second image produced by the circular lens of the
optical system.
Inventors: |
Aizpuru; Jose Joaquin;
(Tehachapi, CA) ; Doster; Rodney; (Garland,
TX) ; Schoening; Danny Robert; (Allen, TX) ;
Little; Ryan; (Richardson, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Optex Systems, Inc. |
Richardson |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005725082 |
Appl. No.: |
17/373815 |
Filed: |
July 13, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16035374 |
Jul 13, 2018 |
10324298 |
|
|
17373815 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 7/1805 20130101;
G02B 27/0905 20130101; F41G 1/00 20130101; G02B 26/0891
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G02B 27/09 20060101
G02B027/09; F41G 1/00 20060101 F41G001/00; G02B 26/08 20060101
G02B026/08 |
Claims
1. A selectable offset image wedge assembly for use with an optical
system having a circular lens and an objective, comprising: a
housing with a rear-facing end that mounts on said objective using
an adapter ring, a forward-facing end with a circular wedge mounted
therein that is coaxially-aligned with and has a smaller diameter
than the lens of the optical system, and a locking ring for locking
the wedge to the adapter; wherein the optical system receives an
image and an offset of said image because the outer periphery of
the lens of the optical system collects a ray bundle unimpeded by
the wedge and the center circular section of the lens of the
optical system corresponding to the diameter of the wedge collects
an offset ray bundle of said image that has passed through the
wedge; wherein the wedge is adjustable to allow the offset of said
image produced by the offset ray bundle to be aligned vertically
with the image produced by the unimpeded ray bundle and locked into
place using the locking ring at a specific clocking position
associated with said vertical alignment; and further wherein, the
wedge is adjustable to any predetermined clocking position after
detachment from the optical system, allowing quick and repeated
reattachment to the optical system to any predetermined clocking
position.
2. The selectable offset image wedge assembly of claim 1, wherein
said objective is threaded, and said adapter ring is threaded on at
least one side and screws into said objective thread.
3. The selectable offset image wedge assembly of claim 1, wherein
said wedge is threaded on at least one side, said locking ring is
threaded, and said adapter ring is threaded on at least one side;
and said locking ring and said threaded wedge screw onto said
threaded adapter ring.
4. The selectable offset image wedge assembly of claim 1, wherein
said objective is threaded, said wedge is threaded on at least one
side, said locking ring is threaded, and said adapter ring is
threaded on at least one side; and said adapter ring screws onto
said objective thread, and said locking ring and said threaded
wedge screw onto said threaded adapter ring.
5. The selectable offset image wedge assembly of claim 1, wherein
at least one more circular wedge is coaxially aligned and mounted
to said forward facing end of said wedge assembly and produces at
least one more offset image.
6. The selectable offset image wedge assembly of claim 2, wherein
at least one more circular wedge is coaxially aligned and mounted
to said forward facing end of said wedge assembly and produces at
least one more offset image.
7. The selectable offset image wedge assembly of claim 3, wherein
at least one more circular wedge is coaxially aligned and mounted
to said forward facing end of said wedge assembly and produces at
least one more offset image.
8. The selectable offset image wedge assembly of claim 4, wherein
at least one more circular wedge is coaxially aligned and mounted
to said forward facing end of said wedge assembly and produces at
least one more offset image.
9. The selectable offset image wedge assembly of claim 5, wherein
said wedge and said at least one more circular wedge are adjustable
independently.
10. The selectable offset image wedge assembly of claim 6, wherein
said wedge and said at least one more circular wedge are adjustable
independently.
11. The selectable offset image wedge assembly of claim 7, wherein
said wedge and said at least one more circular wedge are adjustable
independently.
12. The selectable offset image wedge assembly of claim 8, wherein
said wedge and said at least one more circular wedge are adjustable
independently.
13. A method of mounting at least one selectable offset image wedge
for repeated use with an optical system having a circular lens and
an objective, comprising the steps of: a. mounting said at least
one wedge adjacent said objective; b. mounting a locking mechanism
onto an adapter; c. aligning an optical system reticle with a
vertical line in a field of view using a rifle at a fixed position;
d. mounting said at least one wedge onto the adapter; e. adjusting
said at least one wedge to align an image of the vertical line with
a vertical axis of the reticle; f. adjusting the locking mechanism
against a wedge cell to provide a positive stop when said at least
one wedge is loosened and locked in the fixed position; and g.
locking the locking mechanism.
14. A method of making a selectable offset image wedge for use with
an optical system having a circular lens and an objective,
comprising the following steps: a. polishing two plates of glass to
an approximately same size and shape, said two plates having a
first side and a second side defined by a direction of transmitted
light; b. combining said two plates in opposite directions, such
that said transmitted light enters the first side and second side
and exits the second side and first side of said two plates,
respectively, with no separation of color; c. then a first of said
two plates is cut into circular form for tight insertion into a
cell; d. then a second of said two plates is cut into circular form
slightly smaller than the first and placed adjacent the first at a
tilt within the cell to avoid interference of said transmitted
light; e. then the two plates are bonded together using cement and
collimated red and blue light, forming a cemented wedge, said
cement being cured while two color images are superimposed one on
the other; f. the cell is then positioned between a collimated
target and a theodolite with an index mark aligned vertically in
the direction of transmitted light; g. then the cemented wedge is
aligned in the cell such that a target is displaced only on a
vertical axis, forming a selectable offset image wedge; and h. the
selectable offset image wedge is then bonded in place.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No.
10,324,298 and claims priority to U.S. Pat. No. 10,324,298, filed
Jul. 13, 2018. The entire contents of U.S. Pat. No. 10,324,298 are
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The overwhelming majority of older bore-sighted rifle scopes
do not feature an objective thread. Most accessories available do
not require a thread to be mounted, because the older assemblies
were placed on the outer side of the objective using some kind of
clamp or on an extended rail. The objective thread is a thread that
is on the interior of a riflescope objective and is located in
front of the lens. Not all modern riflescopes have an objective
thread, either. Whether or not to include an objective thread is up
to the manufacturer based on the expected equipment to be used on a
particular scope objective, like for example, sunshades, flip-up
covers, kill flashes, masks or offset image wedges.
[0003] The invention discloses a selectable offset image wedge, a
method of adjusting it, and a method of making it for use with a
bore-sighted scope having a circular lens and an objective thread,
comprising a housing with a threaded rear-facing end that screws
into said objective thread and a forward-facing end with a circular
wedge lens mounted therein that is coaxially aligned with; wherein,
the wedge is subsequently rotatably adjustable to any predetermined
clocking position after detachment from the scope, allowing quick
and repeated reattachment to the scope to a selectable offset
location of an image. The now widespread use of objective threads
existent on thousands of different articles of manufacture
necessitates a new approach to mounting accessories on scopes and
like products.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The visible Field of View (FOV) of any scope mounted on a
rifle is limited by the design and specification of the scope
itself. The FOV can be maximized by setting the scope to the
minimum magnification and, alternatively, can be minimized by
setting the scope to the maximum magnification. The give or take
for this adjustment is enhanced FOV versus target recognition. The
trajectory of any projectile is affected by gravity from the moment
it is fired; although quite repeatable, the impact of this
gravitational pull on the projectile increases exponentially as the
projectile travels. The limitation of the FOV can play a very
important role in how far a scope can effectively see the target.
For example, let's take the case of a typical scope/rifle pairing.
The FOV is projected from the scope onto a target a known number of
yards away, seen as a circle of viewing area when viewed from the
scope. It is shown as a shaded area within a clock. The line of
departure of the projectile (horizontal line simulating an extended
barrel) is linear approximately centered within that circle and
runs parallel to the line of sight, which is the centerline of the
scope FOV. These two lines, in a typical scope/rifle pairing, run
parallel and are offset by a very small distance, typically less
than two inches, as they are stacked on each other. Imagine a
curved trajectory line superimposed on the FOV, defining the
projectile drop. It is apparent that once the trajectory reaches a
certain distance, it falls out of the FOV. It is critical to note
that the functional FOV is shown by the range of the arrows, which
means that the entire area above the line of departure serves no
functional purpose for the user with respect to where the
projectile will hit.
[0005] In an effort to improve the usable FOV across a larger
portion of the overall range, a user can intentionally offset the
FOV by mounting the scope such that it points downward relative to
the line of departure. Here the line of departure and the line of
sight are no longer parallel, offset mechanically by mounting the
scope onto the rifle using a tapered wedge which lifts the back of
the scope. The impact of this tapered wedge mount and how the FOV
is shifted at the target, increases the functional FOV
dramatically. In this specific case, using a mechanical wedge with
a downward tilt will cause a shift of the FOV toward the 6 o'clock
position. The shifted image at the scope will now allow the user to
target something at a given distance that before was not within the
previous FOV.
[0006] The present invention relates to a very specific image shift
using one of many potential specific wedge designs. The wedge used
in this invention is one that is made of two pieces of glass, they
are not the exact same physical shape of glass, they do not have
the same index of glass, and they are not used as distinct
elements. In one embodiment, the pieces of glass are bonded
together to form an assembly in a very specific rotational position
relative to each other. The choice of glass and shape are easily
defined by someone experienced in the art such that, when present
in the optical path of a scope, the resulting image shift is
selected relative to a given radial distance, and when rotated
along the axis of the scope, the image revolves around the center
of the FOV with the exact same amount of rotation of the wedge
assembly itself. This "bonded" wedge assembly will hereinafter
simply be referred to as a "wedge".
Advantages of the Invention
[0007] The many objects and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent to those skilled in the art by examples of
various preferred embodiments. They should be reviewed along with
the attached drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like
components throughout. The variously described embodiments of the
present invention have many advantages, but the invention is not
limited by only the embodiments described herein. Although the
present invention will be described in considerable detail with
reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, other
alternative embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and
scope of the claims should not be limited to the description of the
preferred embodiments, nor the alternative embodiments, and
examples contained herein, and to ensure sufficient antecedent
basis for all types of claims in the specification, this
application recites below the originally filed claims: [0008] 1. A
selectable offset image wedge assembly for use with an optical
system having a circular lens and an objective, comprising: [0009]
a housing with a rear-facing end that mounts on said objective
using an adapter ring, a forward-facing end with a circular wedge
mounted therein that is coaxially-aligned with and has a smaller
diameter than the lens of the optical system, and a locking ring
for locking the wedge to the adapter; [0010] wherein the optical
system receives an image and an offset of said image because the
outer periphery of the lens of the optical system collects a ray
bundle unimpeded by the wedge and the center circular section of
the lens of the optical system corresponding to the diameter of the
wedge collects an offset ray bundle of said image that has passed
through the wedge; [0011] wherein the wedge is adjustable to allow
the offset of said image produced by the offset ray bundle to be
aligned vertically with the image produced by the unimpeded ray
bundle and locked into place using the locking ring at a specific
clocking position associated with said vertical alignment; [0012]
and further wherein, the wedge is adjustable to any predetermined
clocking position after detachment from the optical system,
allowing quick and repeated reattachment to the optical system to
any predetermined clocking position. [0013] 2. The selectable
offset image wedge assembly of claim 1, wherein said objective is
threaded, and said adapter ring is threaded on at least one side
and screws into said objective thread. [0014] 3. The selectable
offset image wedge assembly of claim 1, wherein said wedge is
threaded on at least one side, said locking ring is threaded, and
said adapter ring is threaded on at least one side; and said
locking ring and said threaded wedge screw onto said threaded
adapter ring. [0015] 4. The selectable offset image wedge assembly
of claim 1, wherein said objective is threaded, said wedge is
threaded on at least one side, said locking ring is threaded, and
said adapter ring is threaded on at least one side; and said
adapter ring screws onto said objective thread, and said locking
ring and said threaded wedge screw onto said threaded adapter ring.
[0016] 5. The selectable offset image wedge assembly of claim 1,
wherein at least one more circular wedge is coaxially aligned and
mounted to said forward facing end of said wedge assembly and
produces at least one more offset image. [0017] 6. The selectable
offset image wedge assembly of claim 2, wherein at least one more
circular wedge is coaxially aligned and mounted to said forward
facing end of said wedge assembly and produces at least one more
offset image. [0018] 7. The selectable offset image wedge assembly
of claim 3, wherein at least one more circular wedge is coaxially
aligned and mounted to said forward facing end of said wedge
assembly and produces at least one more offset image. [0019] 8. The
selectable offset image wedge assembly of claim 4, wherein at least
one more circular wedge is coaxially aligned and mounted to said
forward facing end of said wedge assembly and produces at least one
more offset image. [0020] 9. The selectable offset image wedge
assembly of claim 5, wherein said wedge and said at least one more
circular wedge are adjustable independently. [0021] 10. The
selectable offset image wedge assembly of claim 6, wherein said
wedge and said at least one more circular wedge are adjustable
independently. [0022] 11. The selectable offset image wedge
assembly of claim 7, wherein said wedge and said at least one more
circular wedge are adjustable independently. [0023] 12. The
selectable offset image wedge assembly of claim 8, wherein said
wedge and said at least one more circular wedge are adjustable
independently. [0024] 13. A method of mounting at least one
selectable offset image wedge for repeated use with an optical
system having a circular lens and an objective, comprising the
steps of: [0025] a. mounting said at least one wedge adjacent said
objective; [0026] b. mounting a locking mechanism onto an adapter;
[0027] c. aligning an optical system reticle with a vertical line
in a field of view using a rifle at a fixed position; [0028] d.
mounting said at least one wedge onto the adapter; [0029] e.
adjusting said at least one wedge to align an image of the vertical
line with a vertical axis of the reticle; [0030] f. adjusting the
locking mechanism against a wedge cell to provide a positive stop
when said at least one wedge is loosened and locked in the fixed
position; and [0031] g. locking the locking mechanism. [0032] 14. A
method of making a selectable offset image wedge for use with an
optical system having a circular lens and an objective, comprising
the following steps: [0033] a. polishing two plates of glass to an
approximately same size and shape, said two plates having a first
side and a second side defined by a direction of transmitted light;
[0034] b. combining said two plates in opposite directions, such
that said transmitted light enters the first side and second side
and exits the second side and first side of said two plates,
respectively, with no separation of color; [0035] c. then a first
of said two plates is cut into circular form for tight insertion
into a cell; [0036] d. then a second of said two plates is cut into
circular form slightly smaller than the first and placed adjacent
the first at a tilt within the cell to avoid interference of said
transmitted light; [0037] e. then the two plates are bonded
together using cement and collimated red and blue light, forming a
cemented wedge, said cement being cured while two color images are
superimposed one on the other; [0038] f. the cell is then
positioned between a collimated target and a theodolite with an
index mark aligned vertically in the direction of transmitted
light; [0039] g. then the cemented wedge is aligned in the cell
such that a target is displaced only on a vertical axis, forming a
selectable offset image wedge; and [0040] h. the selectable offset
image wedge is then bonded in place.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0041] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a
selectable offset image wedge 100 showing clock markings around its
exterior.
[0042] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a
selectable offset image wedge assembly, showing clock markings
around the threaded wedge 100 exterior, the threaded adaptor ring
101 and the threaded locking ring 102 of a preferred embodiment,
although non-threaded embodiments of the invention are also
contemplated.
[0043] FIG. 3 depicts a typical scope/rifle pairing 200.
[0044] FIG. 4 depicts the projectile drop 250 after a certain
distance.
[0045] FIG. 5 shows an example where the line of departure 300 and
the line of sight 310 are no longer parallel.
[0046] FIG. 6 shows the impact of a wedge 410 and how the Field of
View (FOV) is shifted at the target, shifting the functional FOV
dramatically as shown by arrows 400.
[0047] FIGS. 7 and 8 show how the shifted image at the scope 500
now allows the user to target something at a given distance that,
prior to insertion of the wedge FIG. 6, 410, was not within the
FOV.
[0048] FIG. 9 is an exploded view of an example scope 420 to be
used with the wedge 100, adapter ring 101 and locking ring 102.
[0049] FIG. 10 is a collapsed view showing the wedge assembly 103
once the rings (101 and 102) and the wedge 100 are mounted on
example scope 420 (shown here with zero position aligned to the
scope 420 to produce a purely vertical shift of the image).
[0050] FIG. 11 is intended to depict the cross sectional view 600
of the assembled wedge 103 on example scope 420.
[0051] FIG. 12 shows the cross sectional view in FIG. 11, 600 of an
assembled wedge 103 onto example scope 420, with glass shown to be
positioned such that the zero position is being used based on the
direct downward facing glass of wedge 100.
[0052] FIGS. 13a, 13b and 13c depict the sequential steps for
achieving plumb from FIG. 13a, 701 to FIG. 13b, 702, then achieving
center from FIG. 13b, 702 to FIG. 13c, 703 when aligning example
scope 420 to the plumb initially used for rifle setup.
[0053] FIG. 14a depicts the offset of image 704 using 20 Minute of
Angle (MOA) wedge 410 in FIG. 14b.
[0054] FIG. 14c depicts a 40 MOA offset image 705 using a 40 MOA
wedge 411 in FIG. 14d.
[0055] FIG. 15a depicts an example scope using a 20 MOA wedge at
reticle position of 11 MOA down (800).
[0056] FIG. 15b depicts an example scope using a 40 MOA wedge at
reticle position of 9 MOA up (801).
[0057] FIG. 16 shows unique plumb bob images (802, 803 & 804),
representing three different, yet sequential, rotational stops that
may be seen as the goal of reaching the 804 position.
[0058] FIG. 17a shows a sequence of events that depict an example
of image and resulting locations of bullets as a wedge and scope
are adjusted to center a target into a FOV with a known wind
direction (shown by an arrow). FIG. 17a shows an example scope with
known windage and the target is the dot 902 at the origin and
bullet 901 hits at `X''.
[0059] FIG. 17b shows an example scope with known windage using a
20 MOA wedge prior to rifle movement and target is at dot 904 at 20
MOA to the right and bullet 903 hits at "X".
[0060] FIG. 17c shows an example scope with known windage using a
20 MOA wedge after rifle movement and target is a dot 905 at origin
and bullet hits at "X" 906 offset by 2 MOA 900.
[0061] FIG. 17d shows an example scope with known windage using a
20 MOA wedge after rifle movement with reticle adjust 900 and
target is a dot 907 and bullet hits at "X" 908, both at origin.
[0062] FIG. 18 shows various offset positions achieved by using
non-zero markings on the wedge, with 910 and 911 being the "1.0"
clock marking, and 912 and 913 being depicted to describe the
motion of the image with one of the wedge "0.5" clock markings.
[0063] FIGS. 19 through 24 show alternative embodiments using
multiple wedges (FIG. 19); the resulting rotational location FOVs
as two wedges are rotated (both individually and in combination) in
FIG. 20; the rotation location of both wedges at a direct downward
offset position (FIG. 21); then the same rotation location as FIG.
21, except now rotated at 180 degrees (FIG. 22); and FIG. 23 shows
the FOV as a result of the setup in FIG. 21; and finally, FIG. 24
depicts the FOV as a result of the setup in FIG. 22.
[0064] FIG. 25 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of
a selectable offset image wedge assembly with two wedges, showing
clock markings around the threaded wedge 100 exterior, the threaded
adaptor ring 101 and the threaded locking ring 102 of a preferred
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0065] FIG. 6 shows an example scope 420 with a wedge 410 placed
directly in front of the objective. The wedge is located
rotationally such that the overall thinnest section of the wedge is
located directly at the downward position. The FOV shift 400 can be
designed to be various degrees of movement; in this case, the wedge
shown has a shift of 20 minutes of angle (MOA), hence it is obvious
that the FOV SHIFT shown in FIG. 6 is exaggerated. At 100 yards, a
20 MOA shift is 20 inches using the standard that 1 MOA is 1 inch
for every 100 yards.
[0066] Suppose, by way of example, that a plumb bob is placed at a
distance of 100 yards from the scope 420 described in FIG. 6 and a
rifle (not shown) is sighted through the scope. The reticle used in
the scope is shown in FIGS. 13a, b, and c is marked with MOA. The
intent is to center the tip of the plumb bob to the origin and to
ensure the scope/rifle pair are plumb to the world. FIG. 13a, 701
shows that the scope itself is not plumb to the world because the
plumb line and reticle line do not run parallel to each other; this
means the scope needs to be rotated slightly. FIG. 13b shows that
the scope is now rotated to the correct position 702, because the
plumb and reticle lines run parallel to each other. However, the
target is still not centered, because the tip on the bob is located
low and to the left of origin of the reticle. FIG. 13c shows the
plumb bob once the scope is moved to effectively center the tip of
the plumb bob onto the origin 703.
[0067] A wedge 410 is introduced to the scope 420 by means of a
threaded adapter ring, FIG. 2, 101. FIG. 14a shows what the FOV is
with the wedge in the correct rotational position; FIG. 14b is a
wedge with a 20 MOA design. For the sake of variation, FIG. 14c
shows what the FOV is with a 40 MOA wedge in the correct rotational
position and 14d shows a wedge with a 40 MOA design. Note that the
new center of the FOV is 20 MOA and 40 MOA lower in each of the two
wedges introduced, respectively, as the stationary plumb bob
appears to move upward.
[0068] A user experienced in the art of ballistics knows and
documents the projectile drop at various distances for various
calibers. For example, if a user with the reticle/scope setup
described previously finds a target at 1000 yards and he knows that
the bullet drop with the ammunition he is using is 31 MOA, he can
choose to use either of the wedges described, 20 or 40 MOA. FIGS.
15a and 15b show what a targeted scope would show on the 20 MOA and
40 MOA wedges respectively. FIG. 15a achieves 31 MOA by knowing the
wedge shifts the image 20 MOA and the user raises the rifle an 11
additional MOA to account for the total 31 MOA drop. In FIG. 15b,
31 MOA is achieved by lowering the rifle 9 MOA with a 40 MOA wedge.
These ideal scenarios assume that gravity is the only variable
impacting the projectile; of course, it is up to the user to
understand and adjust for other factors.
[0069] Setting Up a Wedge
[0070] In FIG. 6, it is noted that the plumb bob is now located at
20 MOA relative to the scope/rifle setup process shown in FIGS. 13a
thru 13c, with 13c being the final step in preparation for
introducing the wedge. Once the wedge is threaded onto the scope
all the way until the threads run to a stop, it is not a given as
to where the image will end up, but the end goal is shown in FIG.
14a with a 20 MOA wedge.
[0071] FIG. 16 shows three unique plumb bob images simulating three
different rotational stops within the full 360-degree clock circle.
Bob position 802 will be the starting point in this example of
where the image, as seen through the scope, is located when the
threads came to a mechanical stop. The final bob position needs to
be at position 804 so, as the wedge is backed out slowly from its
current stop position, the image will revolve in a clockwise (CW)
radial 20 MOA pattern depicted by the dashed circle centered on the
origin. Viewing through the scope, near the final position as shown
in bob position 803, continue to rotate the wedge in a CW fashion
until the bob and plumb line lay directly on top of the reticle
line shown in position 804. If the plumb line and bob go too far,
it can certainly be rotated counter clockwise (CCW) to return to
position 804. This mating position of wedge rotation relative to
scope housing is critical and requires a marker to indicate
location once the plumb bob is no longer available to the user
beyond the setup phase. During this process to mark the final wedge
location for 20 MOA bullet drop, the shooter decided to mark not
only the final location where the plumb bob is shown at position
804 (12 o'clock on FIG. 16) but also the other three clocking
locations at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock (note that only the 3 o'clock bob
is shown in FIG. 16). As a result, and in this specific case, the
wedge has four markings to indicate exactly 90 degrees of rotation
relative to each other so that those markings can be matched up
with the one on the scope for any of the four settings discussed.
This is a very sensitive rotational setting and must be done with
caution to achieve the expected results, especially as target
distances fall in the ranges of 1000 to 4000+ yards. At extreme
distances a wedge of higher MOA would be necessary, such as 100
MOA.
[0072] Once the wedge and scope relative rotational position is
marked, it would be beneficial to add a thread locking compound in
cases where:
1) the wedge would be in place for a long time; or 2) for
additional assurance that the wedge is secure in that location.
Other Alternative Embodiments
[0073] Elevation and windage travel ranges on scopes vary by
manufacturer. Elevation tends to necessitate more total range than
windage in most applications. In cases of large distances with
small winds present or extreme wind at even small distances, some
scopes don't have the necessary adjustment capability built in. One
way to simulate additional travel for windage is with a wedge.
[0074] An example of a windage adjustment application for a wedge
is shown in FIGS. 17a-d. An ideal case with no gravitational effect
will be considered here in an effort to focus on the impact of wind
alone. FIG. 17a shows a scope targeted onto an image with a known
wind direction 900 (right to left as shown) and known speed
(converts to 18 MOA effect). The shooter understands the impact of
the wind and under normal circumstances, the windage adjust on this
scope is manufactured with less range than what would be required
to compensate for the 18 MOA necessary. If the shooter shoots at
this moment, the projectile will land 18 MOA to the left at 901,
indicated by the "X" located 18 MOA to the left of center (target).
The target location is indicated by the circle at 902, currently
centered on the scope reticle as there is no wedge effect yet.
[0075] The shooter can now add a wedge with the understanding that,
at some point, he has to move the rifle to the right to be able to
hit the target if the wind remains constant. Prior to moving the
rifle from the position at FIG. 17a, the wedge is added such that
the clocking position ends at the mark combination on the scope and
wedge made earlier to result in the image being located at position
802 in FIG. 16, or at approximately the travel end of the
mechanical stop in the threads. This is shown in FIG. 17b. If the
circle in the new image comes up short of being in the exact
position, approximately one CW rotation of the wedge as seen
through the scope should get the shooter back to position 802. If
the shooter shoots at this moment, the projectile will land at the
same point relative to the target as FIG. 17a because the rifle has
not been adjusted yet for the offset. That shot is now shown as an
"X" at a point 18 MOA to the left of the target but now 2 MOA to
the right of the origin, shown at 903. Of course the original
target is now shifted 20 MOA to the right at 904 because of the
wedge effect.
[0076] The next adjustment to this wedge application comes in the
form of moving the rifle to get the target back on center of
reticle origin. The rifle is moved 20 MOA to the right so that
target appears at the origin at 905. If the shooter shoots at this
moment, the projectile will land just to the right of the origin at
2 MOA at 906. The final adjustment to be made would be to move the
scope reticle over the 2 MOA to the right such that the reticle now
is located where any subsequent projectile would hit. This 2 MOA is
necessary because of the 20 MOA wedge value compared to the 18 MOA
wind impact.
[0077] The amplitude and direction of windage is certainly
unpredictable so a few other cases should be discussed. In the
first example of windage adjust, the case of 18 MOA wind effects
were adjusted with wedge implementation onto the scope. It started
with the target at position 910 in FIG. 18 of the target
(previously shown in FIG. 17b) once the wedge was put onto the
scope for that specific example, which was setting the wedge to the
full extent of thread travel in this wedge example. It is important
to understand that the threads are not necessarily the same for all
wedges and that every wedge should be adjusted separately.
[0078] The next example is very simple when compared to the first,
as it will be the same 18 MOA wind 920 but in the other direction.
In this case, the wedge would be threaded all the way into place,
and then rotated back out about 1/2 turn to get the target to the
position marked 911 in FIG. 18. In essence, any wind from right to
left will start with the wedge target being located on the right
side of the scope, while any wind from left to right, as in this
second example, the target should begin on the left side of the
reticle.
[0079] The last example is used in cases where the MOA of a given
wedge is beyond the MOA impact of the wind but the user would still
like to account for it using a wedge. This example would be a 10
MOA wind and the wedge is still a 20 MOA wedge. Using sine and
cosine relationships, to achieve a 0.5 factor (10 MOA wind compared
to 20 MOA wedge) on the cosine axis, the sine axis would result in
a 0.866 factor, or 20 MOA X 0.866=17.32 MOA. Since the wedge will
revolve in this designed 20 MOA circle, the user could go through
the same steps as the 18 MOA wind from left to right as shown on
position 911 in FIG. 18 and instead start at position 912 shown in
FIG. 18 for a 10 MOA shift. The only additional step would be the
user would have to account for the 17.32 MOA shift caused by the
circular pattern on the wedge to be able to shift the target back
to the origin and not leave it on the "Y" axis at 17.32 MOA below
the origin, as shown for effect on position 913 in FIG. 18.
[0080] Alternative Embodiments Using Multiple Wedges
[0081] Consider the function of a single wedge on a scope as shown
in FIG. 10. Full rotation of the wedge about the FOV axis enables
the user to view any portion of a translated FOV with an offset
defined by the offset of the wedge. A simple analogy would be that
of a flashlight and what can be seen in a dark area depending on
how it is used. A flashlight with no motion only lights a circular
area straight ahead, similar to the FOV of a scope; when the
flashlight is moved in circular motion around that same center and
with a wedge defined offset, more FOV is seen as the flashlight is
moved, but with the same diameter as the static flashlight. Now
consider a second wedge which also rotates in circular motion, but
attached to the first wedge. One can widen the effective FOV by
rotating both wedges to their farthest point in any direction, but
you can also now center the FOV of the light anywhere within that
outer diameter limit defined by the sum of the offset of the two
wedges, whereas before, with only one wedge, you were limited to
traveling on that diameter formed by the offset of the single
wedge.
[0082] FIG. 19 depicts a double wedge 103 and 103 installed using a
threaded adapter as before but duplicated onto an externally
threaded first wedge. FIG. 20 is intended to depict how a two wedge
assembly can perform. In this specific case, two wedge assemblies
with offset designed to be exactly one half the FOV of the scope
are utilized. FIG. 20 FOV 440 is the location of the FOV with no
wedge present. Introduction of the first wedge rotated such that
image drops directly downward results in FOV 441; if rotated one
full 360 degrees from this point, the total comprehended FOV is
depicted by the area in FOV 442. Note that the center of any FOV at
any time with this first wedge will track along the same circle
depicting FOV 440. Introducing the second wedge, with both of them
installed such that they match in their rotation location, directly
downward, the resulting FOV 443. Full 360 degree rotation of only
this wedge comprehends a FOV depicted by 444, similar to how the
first wedge alone performed, but it is now important to understand
that if both wedges are allowed to rotate freely, any FOV shown
within the FOV 445 is possible. The location of the FOV of the dual
wedge system is no longer constrained to a radial location but
instead can be adjusted to any location within 445.
[0083] FIG. 21 shows one depiction of how a multiple wedge assembly
might be utilized. A second wedge assembly 103 is added to the
first wedge assembly 103 from FIG. 10. As shown, with both wedge
assemblies installed rotationally for lowering the FOV, the
resultant FOV would be as shown in FIG. 23, or one full diameter of
offset. FIG. 22 now shows the outer wedge assembly rotated 180
degrees, and the resulting FOV 440 in FIG. 24 essentially nulls
back to a no wedge FOV. This would be the case for any situation
where the two wedges are rotated 180 degrees relative to each
other.
[0084] The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly
understood as given by way of illustration and example only, the
spirit and the scope of this invention being limited solely by the
claims.
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